The best uplifting novels that mix humor with poignancy

What a joyous read! Which may seem like a funny thing to say when the story revolves around twelve-year-old Norman, mourning the loss of his best friend, and his single mother Sadie, who has past issues to resolve. But trust me, it’s so funny and cute and is a rollicking good read. They go on an adventure, with their elderly friend Leonard, to realise Norman’s (and his late friend’s) dreams of performing at the Edinburgh comedy festival, and to discover who Norman’s father is. Written from both characters’ points of view, you get to see different perspectives on their situation, which makes the story even more nuanced. I especially love Norman’s voice and how he’s so full of life and excitement for what the future may hold.  

You can’t get more quirky than Eleanor Oliphant with her unique take on life and the people around her. She’s hilarious in her observations and her goal to meet – and date – a musician drives the narrative forward in an, often, comic way. But her idiosyncrasies hide a darker truth and as the novel progresses, the reality of what she’s dealing with is revealed. I loved this book for being able to combine the light and dark of life in a compelling way, as well as for the writing style and the original voice of Eleanor. We see her world as she sees it and are drawn immediately into her story. I didn’t want it to end but its ending is so satisfactory that I’m glad it did. 

Like my character, Oliver, the main protagonist in this novel, Don Tillman is searching for love – or more specifically, a wife. But he goes about it in an entirely different way. Whereas Oliver doesn’t know where to start, Don’s approach is methodical and scientific – appropriate given he’s a socially inept scientist. He creates The Wife Project as if he’s setting out to hire an employee or devising a financial plan, which makes for very funny reading. From the get-go, the character of Don with all his eccentricities and fastidiousness is nothing but charming. I love the originality of the premise and the character of Don.

The main protagonist Simon Larsen reminds me a little of my character, Oliver Clock, where for a while things had been going pretty well for him, until they very definitely don’t. When Simon’s world collapses around him – his business fails and he loses the family home – he can’t seem to find the best way out, let alone get off the couch. This is a funny, warm, and brilliantly observed novel about the chaos of marriage and families – especially those whom you’ve married into. As a writer, I admire the author’s clever way with words and as a reader, I laughed out loud in parts. 

In a similar vein to the previous book, this novel focuses on a man whose life is spiralling out of control. His professional life begins to crumble, he nearly gets run over by a car and his two teenage children get themselves into angst-causing strife. What I love the most about this book is that it’s narrated in the second person by the main character Michael who’s essentially having a mid-life crisis breakdown. This can be hard to pull off, but it works here as it’s like Michael’s providing commentary on himself and his life as if observing someone else. It makes for some hilarious writing, despite the serious theme. The author shows that sometimes to really appreciate the highs of life, you need to hit rock bottom first.